Blendon Woods Metro Park

Tips for Birding

Good for either spring or fall migration, Blendon Woods Metro Park is my go-to place for fall warblers. The back trail leading from the Nature Center to Thoreau Pond is often stocked with migrants including warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and thrushes. As well, the Goldenrod Trail to the SE of the Nature Center is a good place to find migrants on the edges of the open meadow. If you happen to go on a poor day for migration, at least you’re guaranteed to see the Wild Turkeys that wander the Park!

One of the biggest draws to Blendon Woods is the excellent birding opportunities the park presents. In fact, more than 220 species of birds have been spotted at Blendon. Many of the trails in the park, and particularly the Sugarbush, are heavily populated with many different species of birds. Several feeders behind the Nature Center and the windowed viewing area inside make this another great place to spot and learn about the wild songbirds of central Ohio. This viewing area even includes a microphone and speakers that transmit the chirping and trilling of the birds from outside.

However, the biggest birding draw at the park is Thoreau Lake. There are two birding shelters on this lake, just a quarter-mile from the Nature Center. Thoreau draws many species to the park, including a variety of ducks, great blue herons, and the more elusive green heron. It is also home to many turtles, frogs, and more, and special fishing programs are held on its banks throughout the summer.

About Blendon Woods Metro Park

See all hotspots at Blendon Woods Metro Park

Spectacular stream-cut ravines surrounded by beech-maple and oak-hickory forests highlight the 653-acre Blendon Woods Metro Park. The 118-acre Walden Waterfowl Refuge with its 11-acre Thoreau Lake provides a sanctuary for hundreds of birds and other wildlife. The refuge is open year-round and features two elevated observation shelters with spotting scopes for viewing waterfowl. More than 220 species of birds have been sighted at the park.

Explore the beautiful outcroppings of exposed bedrock as you hike more than 5 miles of trails.

Notable Trails

Blendon Woods Trails
There are 7 trails at Blendon Woods Metro Park:
Brookside Trail – 0.8 miles – easy
Goldenrod Trail – 1.3 miles – easy
Hickory Ridge Trail – 0.3 miles – easy
Lake Trail – 0.3 miles – easy
Overlook Trail – 0.6 miles – easy
Ripple Rock Trail – 0.4 miles – easy
Sugarbush Trail – 2 miles – moderate to difficult

There are descriptions and maps of hikes on the AllTrails website:
Blendon Woods Loop
Sugarbush Trail

Features

  • Restrooms on site

Content from Blendon Woods Metro Park Official Website, Kandace Glanville, Ohio Ornithological Society, and Columbus Examiner news article

Last updated February 15, 2023